Swissport Workers Vote To Strike At Four UK Airports

Workers from the ground handling company Swissport based at Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester and Stansted airports have overwhelmingly voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay.

Ninety-four percent of workers balloted voted in favor of strike action. The massive vote in favor of action has prompted the company to request an urgent meeting with Unite which the union has agreed to attend.

Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: "In the light of this overwhelming mandate for action Swissport has requested talks which we are happy to attend so we can try to resolve this matter.

"The dispute centers on the company's decision to freeze workers pay for eighteen months, from April 2012 through to October 2013, followed by a below inflation increase of just 2.5 per cent.

"Our members are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living and Unite believes Swissport is failing to recognise the contribution its staff are making to the success of the company. We hope that over the coming days we will be able to thrash out a deal with the company but this will depend on whether the company is prepared to move on from its current position on pay."